Friends Forever Read online

  Kate slung one arm through a robe she'd retrieved from behind the door. She finagled her body into the garment, never permitting the towel to reveal an inch of skin despite his sub-conscious pleas.

  “Jesus, Rome!”

  She struggled to tie the belt, her wet blonde hair flying wildly around her, making her appear uncontrollable. God help Rome, all he could think about was what a wildcat she'd be in bed with this passion.

  He tried to explain his purpose for invading her Saturday morning but she continued, “I mean what the hell! Do you think you can just waltz in here anytime you want?”

  “No, I came over...”

  “I mean, what the hell could you possibly need...”

  “I came over to...”

  How could he explain that he’d come to tell her loved her. That he was sorry about his past behavior. His mind drifted back to the night before as she’d swaggered across the room. Her hip-hugging mini skirt molded to her every curve. When she strutted past him, his pants needed more room for movement and all he could do was stare at Kurt, listening to some meaningless story. He’d nodded his head, snubbing Kate's exhibition.

  “Well?” She planted her hands on her hips impatiently waiting for an explanation. He'd never seen her look more beautiful.

  “Huh? I came over here to... I really don't know.” He smiled, hoping he could use his charm to avoid an ass-chewing.

  Kate's eyes sparkled with fury, her chest heaved with emotion. Her breasts went up and down, her breathing hastened.

  “You don't know?”

  “No,” he chuckled, anticipating a reprieve. But apparently today was not going to be his lucky day.

  Kate started pacing in the confines of her small bathroom. She mumbled words of anger and what sounded like to Rome as personal ridicule. She ran her hands through her damp hair and proceeded to rant about privacy, men were blind and her stupidity.

  “What?” He leaned in to hear her better. “What did you say?”

  “What?” Kate appeared confused, like she had almost forgotten he was there.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing” she squawked. “Leave.” She waved her hand at him, dismissing him.

  “I'm not going anywhere. I came here to talk to you.”

  “Oh, you remember why you're here now?” Looking deep into her eyes, Rome recognized pain, hurt and a hint of disbelief.

  “Yes, I remember.” He stepped towards her but she eased away so he stopped. “Let's go talk.” He held out his hand to her showing her that he was being serious.

  Kate accepted his hand with hesitation but permitted his offering.

  Chapter Three

  Rome sat on the sofa, just feet away from her, and Kate became self-conscious of his presence. So close yet so far. She would give anything to spill the truth to him, but she had a gut instinct he was here for another reason. Not a good reason at that. Was this going to be the night he finally told her to leave him the hell alone, to stop pestering him like a school girl?

  Cringing inside, her stomach recoiled and bile began to rise in her throat. She knew it was coming, but also knew nothing could prepare her for his verbal rejection. She'd spent years swooning for this man and it all came down to a two-minute conversation ending in a brush-off.

  His eyes were directed down and slowly he raised them to meet hers. Swallowing hard, she geared herself up for heartbreak. It was coming, the pain she experienced in the shower was nothing compared to what was about to be thrown on her now. Her hands twisted around her robe's belt, knotting the fabric into shreds.

  “Kate.” Rome's smooth, silky voice entering her being, she shivered.

  “Yes.” She lowered her eyes in shame.

  “We need to talk.”

  Kate sighed, turmoil continued to rise inside her. Her lower lip started to quiver and she bit down on it to prevent Rome from noticing, or worse, to prevent her from having a complete breakdown.

  “I came here with the intention of telling you...” Rome stopped.

  Kate raised her eyes to see Rome was staring at her lips. “What?” She shook her head in confusion and rubbed her temples.

  “Hung over?”

  “No.”

  “Kate...” Rome started

  “Stop.” She held up her hand. “Just go, please.”

  Then the tears and breakdown began. She didn't want to hear the words of rejection from his mouth. She suspected the letdown was near, but her heart still couldn't handle it. She had known this day was coming for years, but the reality of it all was that she would never be prepared for Rome's denial.

  Chapter Four

  Rome stood and closed the distance between him and Kate. Gathering her in his arms, he let her cry. He'd known her all his life and had never seen her so upset. He stroked her back as the tears fell. After a few minutes, when the worst of her collapse appeared to be over, Rome took her by the shoulders and leaned her away from his body. Her tear-streaked face made him crumble.

  “I'm so sorry Kate,” he shushed her as tears escaped from her eyes. Using the pad of his thumb he wiped a tear away. “Please don't cry, Kate.”

  Her shoulders continued to shake and Rome pulled her closer.

  “Tell me who he is. Who hurt you? Tell me and I'll kick his ass.”

  He stroked her back and when her body seemed to convulse, he leaned back to see her face. He couldn't believe she was this upset. But to his surprise when he lowered his eyes to her face, she was laughing, not crying.

  “What are you laughing at?”

  “You.” Kate laughed in hysterics.

  “Me?” Rome shook his head, watching her try and gasp for air. “Why are you laughing at me?”

  “I want to see you kick your own ass.” She spat out the words between chortling and almost gagging on her words.

  “What?” Rome shook his head. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You...you said, you'd k-kick the person's ass that hurt me!” Kate's laughter was so uproarious that Rome thought she might just choke on her words.

  “Kate!” He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly to make her focus. “What the hell do you mean?”

  “You! You're the reason for the tears, you ass!” She wiped away a few stray tears. “You hurt me. You always hurt me.”

  Her mood jumped ten paces in the blink of an eye. She went from a hysterical crying woman, to laughing like a fool, to a woman scorned. Rome stepped back for fear of what emotion may erupt next.

  “Me?” He laid his hands on his chest, questioning her charge.

  “Yes,.. you.” Her eyes dared him to challenge her.

  “How?”

  So, he was a glutton for punishment.

  Kate tilted her head to the side, her luxurious long hair falling over her shoulder, her eyes displaying dubiousness of his question.

  “You really don't know, do you?”

  Rome shook his head. “Explain it to me.”

  Using the back of her hand Kate wiped away the excess tears still visible on her cheeks. Sniffling she waved her hand towards the sofa they'd just abandoned.

  “Sit.”

  “No, I'd rather stand.”

  “Fine.” The word escaped Kate's mouth with despicable sarcasm and emphasis on the “F”. She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “You always hurt me Rome, always have.”

  “So you've said,” he retorted, mimicking her stance.

  Towering over her by at least five inches, he knew his looming presence could be considered dangerous and forbidden. Damned if Kate didn't dismiss his domineering mood, she always had an uncanny way of dismissing his mass.

  “But tell me how.”

  “Every time I see you, you discount me. You treat me like the plague… Like I'm still a child.”

  Kate's eyes, full of angst hidden behind the anguish, were moist with fresh tears.

  “I can never do anything right in your eyes. You're very...” She flipped her hand in the air searching for t
he correct word. “Very... “

  “Annoying?” He offered.

  “Yes...but more.” She ignored his sarcasm.

  “Domineering?”

  “That too,” she continued seeking the word.

  “Arrogant?”

  “Oh yes.”

  “Sexy?” He changed his tone, but Kate was too caught up in her own mind that she hadn't really heard him.

  “Yes, of course.” She bit her lower lip while thinking, unaware of his word.

  “There is more here than a love/hate relationship, isn't there?”

  “Rome, I'm trying to think here,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Stop it, Rome.” Her annoyance was obvious. She stared past him, thinking still.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “God, Rome.” Her anger was boiling again. “It's not all about you...”

  Her eyes focused on him, almost as if the light-bulb went on in her head.

  “What did you say?”

  He'd loved Kate for years and the only reason he treated her the way he did was to keep his distance from her. Just like he was about to do now, but he had kept his secret long enough.

  “What did you say?”

  “I think you heard me, Kate.” He gazed into her eyes. “Didn't you?”

  She nodded, her eyes deviating from his gaze

  “And?”

  “And, I don't know how to answer that.”

  “It's really quite simple.” Rome's eyes never wavered from hers. “Either we hate each other... or we...”

  “Don't...”

  “Love each other.” They said simultaneously. His meaning translated into his love for her, but her saying the exact same words left him wondering if she was finishing his sentence, being agreeable to not loving him, or did she mean she loved him.

  *****

  Kate had never tried to contain her excitement this much in her entire life. She was bursting and smiling from deep within. She wasn't one-hundred percent sure of the meaning behind his statement, but her heart rate increased. His words love each other hit a nerve in her that she couldn't relinquish.

  “Rome? What are you saying?” Her voice pleaded. She needed clarification.

  “I don't think I needed to be more clear.” His voice husky, his eyes tender, yet ardent. He opened his mouth to continue, but Kate cut in.

  “Shh.” Her eyes gazed up at him. “Make love to me just this once. That's all I'm asking of you. Then you can leave.”

  She didn't expect more from him than one night. She couldn't, Rome was out of her league, no matter how much she wanted him to be hers. What she wasn't expecting, was his reply.

  “No.” Rome startled her. “No, I can't do that.”

  “W-what?” The remains of Kate's heart broke when he announced his admission of not wanting to make love to her.

  “I can't do that,” he reiterated, stepping back to look at her.

  Humiliation bloomed on Kate's sweet face.

  “I-I don't know...” She shoved away from him, breaking all contact. “Just leave… Now!”

  In a split second, she reached up, placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away.

  “Kate...”

  “Go! Damn you, Rome. Just leave!”

  Rome opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it. Cursing under his breath, he turned and left the room. He sensed Kate crumbling to the floor, when he heard a thud from her bedroom, as he walked down the short hallway. He heard her sobbing and his heart broke, knowing he'd devastated her.

  “You are such a fool, Katherine Rose.” Rome heard her scolding herself in between sobs. “How could you make such a fool of yourself in front of the only man you've ever loved?”

  Chapter Five

  Rome stopped when he heard Kate's words. He knew her feelings were strong, just as his were for her. But to actually hear her confess the affection struck him hard.

  He eased back some to listen, thankful he hadn't shut the door behind him. His first thought had been to close it, giving her privacy, but he hadn't. His internal anguish ruled as he stormed out of her bedroom. He was seconds away from making love to Kate, his sweet Kate. And if he had only stayed ten more seconds and explained why he couldn't just make love to her once. He'd be in there loving her now tasting her mouth, touching her soft skin and feeling her love beneath him.

  Rome smacked his palm to his forehead, which seemed to be a reoccurring theme in his life.

  He turned back to her bedroom and walked to the door. He found Kate slouched against the bed frame, looking defeated and ruined. Leaning down next to her, he brushed the hair away from her face and she flinched under his touch.

  “Go.” Her voice was a whimper.

  “No, Kate. I have to explain.” He settled on the floor next to her, trying to take her in his arms. When she resisted, he halted his actions so as not to upset her more.

  “There's nothing to explain. I get it,” her hair fell over her face, blocking him out.

  “Yes, there is.” He whispered. “More than you can imagine.” When she didn't reply, he continued. “I can't make love to you once, Kate. I just can't do it.”

  “I know.” Her sobbing started again. “You told me that.”

  “And I have a reason for that.” Rome scooted closer, so their bodies were touching.

  “Oh God!” Kate howled, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

  He trudged on before she lost control of her emotions. “It’s because I'm not capable of it.”

  “Am I that hideous?” She tried to make her question sarcastic but it came out in between her tears, making the rebuttal pathetic.

  “No, no, sweetheart.” His words attempted to coddle her. “I just know that I can't make love to you...once.”

  “Not even once?” Her voice crackled.

  “Not just once.” He restated, slipping his arm around her. “Let me show you.”

  Lifting her chin with his hand, his lips brushed against hers. With his other arm he slid it under her arm, hoisting her onto the bed. He gently laid her back, never breaking contact with their lips.

  Kate's heart started pounding as he lay down next to her. He ran his rough denim clad leg up her bare thigh. The movement eased aside her robe, exposing her tender skin.

  A feral moan escaped from her throat and Rome took this as an invitation to proceed. He deepened his kiss, his fingers starting at mid-thigh, traveled up slowly. As his lips nibbled on hers, Kate shifted under his touch, which was so light. If she hadn't been laboring her pelvis into him, she'd barely know he was making contact.

  “I'm going to make you mine,” Rome whispered against her lips.

  “Yes!” Kate groaned, her head lolling back into the pillow. “Now.”

  “No.” His voice rustled full of seduction and promise. “I'm going to take my time.”

  “Oh God.”

  Kate tilted her head back, revealing her neck. Rome took the opportunity and lowered his mouth, sucking the sensitive spot of the crook of her neck.

  Kate shuddered as Rome's hot breath teased her and his teeth nibbled her skin.

  “Don't stop.”

  Kate shifted beneath him, the motion causing her robe to slide a little higher up, exposing more of her thigh. His hand immediately took control, moving higher.

  “Touch me.” Kate said greedily.

  “In due time.” Rome replied, his lips brushing her shoulder.

  “Rome.” Her pleading voice whimpered.

  “I'm going to make this last. Savor every minute, taste every inch of your luscious body.” He nipped her shoulder.

  “Rome!” Kate mewled, her breathing becoming erratic while thrusting her hips lower to meet his hand. When her hips advanced, Rome's hand descended down her leg.

  “Now, now, Kate, be patient. Trust me; it will be worth the wait.” His smooth voice soothed her passion.

  Kate groaned in frustration. “I want you… Now.”

  “And you'll have me.”

  “Not soon enough.”
<
br />   “Oh, Kate.” He smothered her mouth with his.

  ****

  He collapsed on top of her spent body, their breaths in sync. No words were spoken. The mutual silence was deafening yet comforting. Rome tried to lick his chapped lips but had no energy left, not even in his tongue to perform the task. He'd made love to many women in his thirty plus years but never like this. His body, soul and mind now belonged to Kate.

  “Please tell me you don't regret this.” Kate's melodic voice broke into his thoughts.

  “What?” He lifted his head.

  “I'm not a hit and run kind of a girl.”

  “I never thought you were.” Rome gazed into her sex-laden sultry eyes.

  “Any other man and I would be,” she confessed. “But never with you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you,” she conceded. “You're special. I've always...”

  “Stop.” Rome held his fingers to her lips. “Don't say it. Let me talk first.”

  “Okay.” Kate licked her lips, sadness filling her eyes.

  It almost broke his heart to see the sorrow in Kate's eyes. She appeared to be expecting to have her heart broken. Rome knew it, but now was the time to talk to her about the real reason he'd come over this morning. He was ready to share the truth. Leaning on his elbow, Rome stared at Kate. She appeared calm but he knew her emotions were jumbled and anticipating the worst. One wrong word and he'd lose her.

  “I came here today to tell you why I've been treating you so badly lately.”

  “Lately? That's an understatement,” she snorted.

  “Shh.” Smiling, Rome placed his finger on her lips again. “Let me talk, then you can have your turn.”

  She opened her mouth but Rome raised his eyebrows. Clamping her lips tight Kate tried not to smirk. Rome released a long sigh but then continued talking.

  “I came here to talk to you and tell you that I'm sorry for my behavior. I never meant to hurt you.”

  “Really? Well, you did.” An argumentative tone settled into her voice.

  “I never meant to, Kate. You have to believe me.”